Macworld Whether you go around the world or only as far as the coffee shop, you need effective network security. Now through July 14th, the Deeper Connect Pico gives you that security for the best price ever as part of our Deal Days promotion. The Deeper Connect Pico has a profile that can slip into a coin pocket and a look that blends in with your gear. But inside is a quad-core processor that drives a seven-layer firewall, an ad-blocker, a parental control tool, and a decentralized private network of other Picos to provide maximum security. And since it’s all hardware-based, you won’t pay any subscriptions or fees. Just take it with you, connect it to a power source and…

Apple is prepping major new hearing health and body-temperature features for AirPods, planning cheaper models, a transition to USB-C charging ports, and exploring how it could better position AirPods as a hearing aid, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News. AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News: The capabilities will come in addition to already-announced software features that were part of iOS 17, as well as plans for new AirPods Pro and Max models. The company is working on a new hearing test feature that will play different tones and sounds to allow the AirPods to determine how well a person can hear. The idea is to help users screen for hearing issues, not unlike how the Apple Watch…

Macworld Apple’s two-factor authentication system deflects access to your Apple ID account by requiring that in addition to your password you also have to provide a code that arrives either through a trusted device (an iPhone, iPad, or Mac) or a trusted phone number—one that’s been verified after having been added. Trusted devices are an easier set to manage, because they represent all devices logged into the same Apple ID for use with iCloud. Trusted numbers are a different matter. I’ve long recommended adding not just your own cellular or other phone numbers as trusted numbers, but also that of someone trustworthy who is close to you, like a life partner or family member. That gives you a backup in…

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge Apple may be planning a new display with a custom Apple silicon chip — similar to the A13-powered Studio Display — that would allow it to be gain behavior that’s completely independent of the Mac, such as the ability to act as a smart display when not in use, said Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the subscriber-only version of his Power On newsletter today. Rumors have swirled about Apple’s display plans for a little while. For instance, the company may be working on a 27-inch mini-LED display and a follow-up to the pricey Apple Pro Display XDR, with the ability to summon Siri built into the displays themselves, possibly. The new smart display capability…

The Vision Pro almost had a dedicated controller. | Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Apple’s new Vision Pro headset, which is coming later this year, will use hand-tracking and eye-tracking for control, but at one time, Apple considered a finger-worn input device, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter. Gurman said that early in the Vision Pro’s development cycle, Apple tested third-party virtual reality controllers from companies like HTC. Later, it looked into the finger-worn device — indeed, in 2015 a smart ring patent from the company emerged, though at the time seemed more intended as a general wearable device, not something specific to a mixed reality headset. Apple Vision Pro first look. In the end,…

Early in the Apple Vision Pro development cycle, the company toyed with bespoke VR controllers for the headset, but ultimately decided that eye and finger tracking with cameras was the way to go.Apple Vision ProAt some point in early development, Apple reportedly company considered a device like a smart ring to control the Apple Vision Pro. According to the latest newsletter from Mark Gurman, the company also reportedly tested third-party VR controllers from HTC at least. Read more...